Earring with a cushion attachment



Jan. 14, 1958 H. R. NORTHUP EARRING WITH A cusmon ATTACHMENT Filed July6, 1954 ffiflerz'ivf Z/zvy Z8, 7702 55240 1 .lg 3' V dzfys United statesPatent 2,819,595 EARRING WITH A CUSHION ATTACHMENT Harry R. Northup,Mishawalka, Ind., assignor, by decree of distribution, to Faye H.Northup Application July 6, 1954, Serial No. 441,421 4 Claims. (Cl.63-14) The present invention relates to an earring guard of the typeadapted to be detachably connected to the ear lobe engaging portion ofone of the legs of an earring frame. Because of the size, shape and/orweight of various earrings, it frequently happens that after suchearrings are worn for a short period of time they become veryuncomfortable to the wearer. Such discomfort in wearing of certain typesof earrings frequently is the result of the substantial weight of theearring proper but more often is the result of the imposition ofexcessive clamping or gripping pressures employed to properly secure theearring in position on the ear lobe. If adequate gripping pressure isnot utilized, frequently the earring will slip off of the earlobe andbecome damaged or lost.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novelearring guard characterized by the provision of a body of resilientmaterial having an undercut cavity formed therein, and adapted to bemounted on ear lobe engaging means of one of the legs of the frame of anearring and the resilient body serving to provide a soft, firm frictiongrip on the ear lobe for supporting an earring from the ear lobe with aminimum amount of discomfort.

Another object is to provide a novel earring guard of the characterindicated formed of a body of resilient material having an undercutcavity formed therein and an aperture in the ear lobe engaging face ofthe body in direct communication with the cavity for providing a firmcushion engagement with the earlobe.

A further object is to provide a novel earring guard of the characterindicated formed of a body of soft, resilient material having a coatingof non-drying adhesive on one face thereof for detachable securement toear lobe engaging means of one of the legs of an earring frame.

Still another object is to provide a novel earring guard which is simplein construction, durable and efficient in use, and which is capable ofbeing economically manufactured.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in conned tion with the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an enlarged, side elevational View of an earring providedwith the earring guard embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view, similar to Figure 1, but showingthe earring provided with my novel guard shown in mounted relation to anear lobe;

Figure 3 is a face view of the earring guard;

Figure 4 is an axial section through the guard, taken substantially asindicated on line 44 of Figure 3.

The earring guard embodying the present invention is illustrated in thedrawings in connection with one form of a clip-type earring. It will beapparent, however, that the novel guard embodying the present inventionis adapted for use with various other forms of clip-type earrings andmay also be used in connection with a screw-type earring wherein the earlobe engaging head is substantially fiat.

2,819,595 Patented Jan. 14, 1958 The earring represented in the drawingis of a conventional type and comprises a generally U-shaped frame 10having upwardly extending inner and outer legs 11 and 12 respectively.Secured to the outer surface of the outer leg or formed as an integralpart thereof is a suitable ornament indicated generally at 14. The innersurface of the leg 12 is preferably, though not necessarily so, providedwith a button or seat 15 for engaging the outer surface of an ear lobe.The inner face of the inner leg 11 is provided with a button or seat 16generally of circular form for normally engaging the inner surface of anear lobe when the earring is mounted in position on the ear.

It is to be understood that the frame 10, including the legs 11 and 12in the construction herein illustrated, is formed of resilient materialand the legs at their upper end are normally spaced apart a properdistance so that when the earring is applied in embracing relation to anear lobe, the cooperating buttons 15 and 16 grip the opposite faces ofthe ear lobe to support the earring in proper position.

The guard embodying the present invention comprises a body 20 ofrelatively resilient material, such as soft rubher or synthetic rubber.As shown, the guard is of generally cylindrical form and is providedwith a cylindrical cavity 21 of a size and location so that all of thewalls of the body are of relatively thin cross-section of material. Thebody includes a front face 22 and a rear face 23 which preferably aresubstantially flat. The front face of the resilient body is adapted tobe positioned in engagement with the inner face of an ear lobe when theguard is in operative position on an earring suspended from the ear. Tofurther assist in providing a soft, firm friction grip of the face 22with the ear lobe of the wearer of the earring, the front wall of thebody is formed with a central aperture 24 in direct communication withthe cavity 21. Mounted on the rear face 23 of the body is a layer 25 ofdouble faced, non-drying adhesive. The outer exposed surface of thelayer of adhesive is initially covered by a protective facing sheet 26.

When the guard embodying the present invention is to be utilized, theprotective facing sheet 26 is first removed and the guard is then placedin position so that the outer exposed surface of the adhesive layer 25is in direct contact with the fiat face of the button 16 of the innerleg of the earring frame. Because the adhesive layer is of non-dryingcharacteristics, the guard may, if desired, be quickly and easilyremoved from one earring and transferred to another. The adhesiveretains adequate adhering characteristics so that the guard may beeffectively utilized over relatively long periods of time.

Due to the undercut formation of the cavity with respect to the marginaledge of the aperture 24 and by reason of the fact that the materialcomprising the guard is relatively soft, resilient material, the guard,when in operative position in engagement with an ear lobe, provides asoft, firm, cushion type of mounting and the cavity being closed whenthe guard is in operative position in itself serves to provide an aircushion. Furthermore, the aperture 24 formed in the ear lobe engagingface 22 of the guard provides in addition, fiirm anchorage and seatingof the guard on the lobe of the ear, as clearly seen in Figure 2 of thedrawing. When the earring provided with the novel guard embodying thepresent invention is mounted on an ear lobe, as indicateddiagrammatically at A in Figure 2, the guard readily conforms to thecontour of the ear lobe and the side walls of the guard 10 divergeoutwardly under the clamping pressure of the earring proper and at thesame time, the flesh of the ear lobe tends to enter the aperture 24.

It will be apparent that by virtue of the novel form of earring guardherein disclosed said guard provides in effect a relatively soft cushionpad for engagement with the inner surface of an ear lobe and effectivelyresists a tendency for the earring to slip or fall off of the ear lobe.The soft cushion action of the guard insures adequate frictionalengagement of the earring for proper support from an ear lobe under lessclamping or gripping pressures as normally required to support theearring in position and hence, results in eliminating or greatlyminimizing discomfort which normally results in utilizing adequategripping or clamping pressures in order to properly support varioussizes, shapes or weights of earrings.

Although I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of myinvention, manifestly it is capable of modification Without departingfrom the spirit and scope thereof. I do not, therefore, Wish to beunderstood as limiting this invention to the precise embodiment hereindisclosed, except as I may be so limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An earring construction comprising, in combination, a generallyU-shaped frame having spaced apart inner and outer legs adapted to bepositioned at opposite sides of the lobe of an ear, abutment means forsaid ear lobe on each of said legs, and an ear guard for attachment tothe abutment means of one of said legs, said guard comprising a unitarybody of resilient material, having front and rear faces, and adapted formounting the rear face on the ear lobe engaging means of the inner legof the frame with the front face positioned for engaging the inner faceof the ear lobe, said body being formed with only a single undercuthollow cavity therein to provide relatively thin side and front walls,the front wall having a flat surface, and the central portion thereofbeing formed with an aperture in communication with the cavity, saidfront and rear faces being normally held spaced from each other when theguard is not in use to provide an air cushion for the ear when theearring is in operative position thereon.

2. An earring construction comprising, in combination, a generallyU-shaped frame having spaced apart inner and outer legs adapted to bepositioned at opposite sides of the lobe of an ear, abutment means forsaid ear lobe on each of said legs, and an ear guard for attachment tothe abutment means of one of said legs, said guard comprising a unitarybody of resilient material, having front and rear faces, and mounted onthe rear face on the ear lobe engaging means of the inner leg of theframe with the front face positioned for engaging the inner face of theear lobe, said body being formed with only a single undercut cavitytherein to provide relatively thin side and front walls, the front wallhaving a flat surface and the central portion thereof being formed withan aperture in communication with and of a cross sectional dimensionsmaller than the cross section of the cavity, to provide a flat,annular, ear lobe engaging surface.

3. An earring construction comprising, in combination, a generallyU-shaped frame having spaced apart inner and outer legs adapted to bepositioned at opposite sides of the lobe of an ear, abutment means forsaid ear lobe on each of said legs, and an ear guard for attachment tothe abutment means of one of said legs, said guard comprising a unitarybody of resilient material, having front and rear faces, and adapted formounting the rear face on the ear lobe engaging means of the inner legof the frame with the front face positioned for engaging the inner faceof the ear lobe, said body being formed with only a single undercuthollow cavity therein to provide relatively thin side and front walls,the front wall having a flat surface, and the central portion thereofbeing formed with an aperture in communication with the cavity, saidfront and rear faces being normally held spaced from each other when theguard is not in use to provide an air cushion for the ear when theearring is in operative position thereon, and means for detachablysecuring said rear face of the body to the ear lobe engaging means ofthe inner leg of the frame.

4. An earring construction comprising, in combination, a generallyU-shaped frame having spaced apart inner and outer legs adapted to bepositioned at opposite sides of the lobe of an ear, abutment means forsaid ear lobe on each of said legs, and an ear guard for attachment tothe abutment means of one of said legs, said guard comprising a unitarybody of resilient material, having front and rear faces, and adapted formounting the rear face on the ear lobe engaging means of the inner legof the frame with the front face positioned for engaging the inner faceof the ear lobe, said body being formed with only a single undercutcavity therein to provide relatively thin side and front walls, thefront wall having a fiat surface, and the central portion thereof beingformed with an aperture in communication with the cavity, said front andrear faces being normally held spaced from each other when the guard isnot in use to provide an air cushion for the ear when the earring is inoperative position thereon, and means for detachably securing said rearface of the body to the ear lobe engaging means of the inner leg of theframe, said means comprising a sheet of double faced, non-dryingadhesive mounted on the rear face wall of the body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,978,652 Shea Oct. 30, 1934 2,319,727 Duggan May 18, 1943 3,364,872Rich Dec. 12, 1944 2,407,098 Raiche Sept. 3, 1946 2,642,248 Semon June16, 1953 2,763,999 Norman Sept. 25, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 644,123 FranceOct. 2, 1928

